A US woman who shot and killed her husband and two adult children before taking her own life is thought to have committed the shocking crime as a result of being ostracised from the religion she was raised in.

A federal judge sentenced a former Arkansas judge Wednesday to five years in prison — a stiffer punishment than prosecutors recommended — after he admitted giving young male defendants lighter sentences in return for personal benefits that included sexual favours.

Every time I tell a mate I’m doing a story on cryptocurrency, they invariably ask me the same two questions: should they invest their own hard-earned money, and which cryptocurrency will get them a Lamborghini/yacht/island quickest?

In a 60 Minutes online exclusive, reporter Liz Hayes quizzed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on his relationship with the unpredictable Twitter aficionado and US president Donald Trump ahead of their meeting at the White House Friday.

Asylum seeker boat nearing Christmas Is

The 21-metre boat, which left from India, is said to have sprung an oil leak and is 300km west of Christmas Island.

"The boat is making very slow headway, but they do have an oil leak and are concerned that they will run out of oil before they reach Christmas Island," Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said on Friday.

Mr Rintoul said he had spoken to an asylum seeker on board, and said Australia was the only country in the region with the rescue capabilities to ensure their safety.

"We are extremely concerned that the government may attempt to divert the asylum seekers or leave assistance until it is too late," Mr Rintoul said.

A spokesman for Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison said the government's border protection policies had not changed.

"For operational security reasons, the government does not confirm or otherwise comment on reports of on-water activities in relation to Operation Sovereign Borders or disclose details of any operations other than where there have been significant events involving extreme risk of safety of life at sea," he said.